Fashion nail covering, covering set and method for covering a nail

ABSTRACT

There is provided herein a fashion nail covering comprising an adhesive tape having a nail adhesive side and an opposing outer side having a pre-printed nail area, which can be used to cover a finger nail or toe nail to cosmetically disguise and/or render the nail more aesthetically pleasing. There is also provided a nail set comprising said nail covering and a method of employing the same.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the covering of fingernails or toenails to improve the appearance thereof.

2. Background of the Art

Artificial fingernails and other fingernail ornamentation such as fingernail polish is widely used in the modern world. There are a variety of reasons for which a person may choose to wear artificial fingernails or other fingernail ornamentation, such as fingernail polish. However, chief among the variety of reasons is to improve the aesthetic appearance of one's hands. Many people go to great lengths and expense to obtain a neatly manicured appearance for their fingernails. Although it is possible to use nail polish to change the appearance of one's nails, this is often a tedious and potentially messy process that can involve chemicals and the time needed for the nail polish to dry, during which a person must refrain from interacting with other objects for fear of staining other objects and/or upsetting the finish appearance.

Also, still other people have fingernails that may be permanently damaged, deformed, or discolored, such that conventional manicuring does not achieve the desired appearance. Accordingly, such people, as well as others, turn to applying artificial fingernails to their natural fingernails. However, such artificial fingernails require the use of caustic adhesives and such artificial fingernails can easily chip, crack or become dislodged leaving an unsightly appearance.

Thus, there is a need for a means of covering one's fingernails quickly which avoids the aforementioned physical and time constraints.

SUMMARY

The inventors herein have discovered a means of quickly covering one or more finger nails and/or toenails with a plethora of colors and/or designs. The means provided herein can improve the appearance of the nails without the need for caustic chemicals or time-consuming and costly nail treatments.

There is provided herein a fashion nail covering comprising an adhesive tape having a nail adhesive side and an opposing outer side having a pre-printed nail area.

Further, there is also provided herein a fashion nail covering set comprising up to about 10 individual fashion nail coverings such as those described herein.

Still further, there is provided herein a method of covering a nail of the human hand or foot comprising applying a fashion nail covering as described herein to a nail of the human hand or foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the fashion nail covering according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the fashion nail covering containing the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the fashion nail covering containing a pad and a cover strip;

FIG. 4. is a top view of a fashion nail covering set of 5 fashion nail coverings;

FIG. 5 is a view of a human foot having the fashion nail covering applied to one toe of the foot;

FIG. 6 is a view of a human foot having the fashion nail coverings applied to each of the toes of the foot;

FIG. 7 is a view of a human hand having the fashion nail covering applied to one finger; and,

FIG. 8 is a view of a human hand having the fashion nail covering applied to each of the fingers of the hand.

Like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.

Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure.

It will be understood herein that every embodiment described herein as to a finger nail and/or a hand can apply correspondingly to a toe nail and/or foot, and vice-versa.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a fashion nail covering 100. The fashion nail covering 100 is comprised of an adhesive tape 110. The adhesive tape 110 has a nail adhesive side 120 and an opposing outer side 130. The opposing outer side 130 has a pre-printed nail area 140 thereon. In one embodiment, the pre-printed nail area 140 has an outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail therein. The area outside of the pre-printed nail area 140 of the adhesive tape 110 is termed the area other than the pre-printed nail area 160. In one embodiment herein the area other than the pre-printed nail area 160 can be of any shade or color, of a suitable flesh color, or transparent.

Where the adhesive tape 110 is adhered to a finger nail or toe nail it becomes firm and smooth like a natural finger or toe nail. For further enabling cosmetic application of nail polish adhesive tape 110 is resistant to damage by conventional nail polish chemicals, and the opposing outer side 130 of the adhesive tape is suitable for application and adherence of a coating of the conventional nail polish by conventional means (e.g., by brush). A non-glossy outer side 130 is preferred for suitably aiding uniform adherence of the nail polish. It is also preferred, along with transparency or translucence for visually “hiding” the adhesive tape 110 on the skin of the finger nail or toe nail, given that these characteristics avoid unnatural light reflection and allow the normal skin color to show through.

In one embodiment, the fashion nail covering 100, specifically the adhesive tape 110 has an adhesive 180 (see FIG. 3) on its nail adhesive side 120 that is preferably approved for medical use such as for over-the-counter bandage tape and is resistant to moisture. The adhesive tape 110 is preferably translucent or transparent and has a non-glossy outer side 130 so that, once applied to the skin, adhesive tape 110 is unseen and the skin shows through. Furthermore, a non-glossy (matt) surface is more likely to be suitable for application and adherence of a layer of nail polish, e.g. brushing on without beading up.

An example of a commercially available product meeting these criteria is a polyethylene film (adhesive tape 110) supplied with adhesive 180 on one side. Polyethylene film is known to have good resistance to chemicals such as inks, coloring, carrier fluids, and the like that are typically used in conventional “nail polish”. Listed material properties that make the adhesive tape 110 (film with adhesive) particularly suitable are: hypoallergenic, suitable for repeat/chronic skin contact, “medium” conformability, fluid resistant, “printable”, and transparent (preferred, but is also available in “tan” and “blush tan” colors). The printable characteristic means that paint or ink, and therefor likely nail polish (enamel lacquer) will adhere when applied by conventional means. Additional properties that are advantageous include: average adhesion, sterilizability, 0.1 mil to 6 mil thick film with good tensile strength and moderately low elongation, and supplied with a cover strip 190 protecting the adhesive 180 (see FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 3, there is provided a fashion nail covering 100 viewed from the side. The adhesive tape 110 can optionally have a pad 170 located on the nail adhesive side 120. The nail adhesive side 120 has an adhesive 180 located thereon, preferably on the entire nail adhesive side 120. In one embodiment, the nail adhesive side 120 of the adhesive tape 110 can be covered with a cover strip 190. The cover strip 190 can protect the adhesive 180 from drying out and maintain a level of sterility of the adhesive tape 110, and if present, the optional pad 170. In one specific embodiment herein the fashion nail covering 100 can be in the absence of a pad 170.

Referring to FIG. 3, the pad 170 can be flexible for conforming to contours of the nail portion of the affected digit (e.g., cylindrically convex), and can be semi-rigid to hold its shape under the adhesive tape 110. It can be a closed cell structure (without porosity) or an open-cell structure, and approved for medical use. The pad thickness is preferably comparable to that of a nail for the affected digit, for example approximately from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm, preferably from about 0.2 to about 3 mm thick. An example of a suitable thickness is a 2 mm thick, closed cell polyethylene “medical foam” with “medium” conformability, supplied in a “tan” color, so that the pre-printed nail area 140 will not stand out as an unnatural pure white color. It is non-porous, fluid resistant, sterilizable, hypoallergenic, and approved for repeated skin contact.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is provided a fashion nail covering set 200. The set 200 is shown as containing five individual fashion nail coverings 100. However, the fashion nail covering set 200 can have any amount of individual fashion nail coverings 100. Some suitable examples of the amount of fashion nail coverings 100 in the set 200 can be 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, and 20. The fashion nail covering set 200 can contain fashion nail coverings 100 for either finger nails, toe nails, or both. Still further, the set could contain one fashion nail covering 100 for the big toe and one fashion nail covering 100 for the thumb nail.

The set 200 can have individual fashion nail coverings 100 of different sizes. The different sizes as shown in FIG. 4, can be set to correspond the different sizes of the different fingers of the human hand or the different sizes of the different toes of the human foot, and can be varied for men, women and children or for people with different sized hands or feet. The outlined area 150 of each fashion nail covering 100 in the set 200 can be configured likewise to correspond to the different nail sizes of the different fingers of the human hand or the different nail sizes of the different toes of the human foot. The set 200 can be produced in different sets of sizes for men or women, and/or children, and/or can be made in varying degrees of sizes such as the non-limiting examples of small, medium, large, and the like. In another embodiment, in the set 200, one or more fashion nail coverings 100 can have a pad 170 and the remaining fashion nail coverings 100 can be in the absence of a paid 170.

In one non-limiting embodiment the fashion nail covering 100 can have separate sizes if produced in a set 200. Some examples of suitable sizes of the fashion nail covering 100 are from 1/16 to about 2 inches in length, preferably from about ¼ to about 1.5 inches in length. These lengths can correspond to the reference letter “L” shown in FIG. 4. Some suitable widths of the fashion nail coverings 100 as shown by the width reference letter “W” in FIG. 4 are from about 1/16 to about 2.5 inches, and preferably from about ⅛ to about 2 inches.

Referring to FIG. 5 the fashion nail covering 100 is shown as applied to the human foot 300 on the big toe 310 (i.e., the hallux toe). Referring to FIG. 6, the fashion nail covering set 200 shown in FIG. 4 is shown as applied to each of the toes of the human foot. The fashion nail covering set 200 as shown applied to the toes of a human foot 300 can be painted by the user, or can be pre-painted to provide the appearance of a painted toe nail 320. The painted toe nail 320 can be painted any shade or color. In addition, a set 200 can be such that the painted toe nails 320 can each be pre-painted with the same or different colors. In one other embodiment, each fashion nail covering 100 in a set 200 can have the outlined area of the toe nail 150 pre-painted the same or different colors. Alternatively, the outlined area of the toe nail 150 can be blank and can be painted by a user to a desired color or in different colors. Still further, the outlined area 150 can be such that it can be repainted by the user over a period of time.

In yet another embodiment, the outlined area 150 of the toe nail can be pre-painted or painted by the user to simulate the appearance of an adjacent toe nail, which adjacent nail is either painted or unpainted. Thus, the outlined area 150 of the toe nail can be in one embodiment be used by men, women, or children to provide the appearance of a normal healthy painted or unpainted toe nail in conformity with an adjacent normal healthy painted or unpainted toe nail.

Referring to FIG. 7 the fashion nail covering 100 is shown as applied to the human hand 400 on the thumb 410. Referring to FIG. 8 the fashion nail covering set 200 shown in FIG. 4 is shown as applied to each of the fingers of the human hand 400. The fashion nail covering set 200 as shown applied to the fingers of the human hand 400 can be painted by the user, or can be pre-painted to provide the appearance of a painted finger nail 420. The painted finger nail 420 can be painted any shade or color. In addition, a set 200 can be such that the painted finger nails 420 can each be pre-painted with the same or different colors. In one other embodiment, each fashion nail covering 100 in a set 200 can have the outlined area of the finger nail 150 pre-painted the same or different colors. Alternatively, the outlined area of the finger nail 150 can be blank and can be painted by a user to a desired color or different colors. Still further, the outlined area 150 can be such that it can be repainted by the user over a period of time.

In yet another embodiment, the outlined area 150 of the finger nail can be pre-painted or painted by the user to simulate the appearance of an adjacent finger nail, which adjacent finger nail is either painted or unpainted. Thus, the outlined area 150 of the finger nail can be in one embodiment be used by men, women or children to provide the appearance of a normal healthy painted or unpainted finger nail in conformity with an adjacent normal healthy painted or unpainted finger nail.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It being understood that only preferred embodiments have been shown and described, and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the invention as claimed are desired to be protected. Undoubtedly, many other “variations” on the “themes” set forth hereinabove will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention most nearly pertains, and such variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention, as disclosed herein. 

1. A fashion nail covering comprising an adhesive tape having a nail adhesive side and an opposing outer side having a printed nail area which is an outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail, and wherein the opposing outer side of the adhesive tape has an area outside the outlined nail area, and wherein the nail adhesive side of the adhesive tape is adherable to a nail and skin of a finger or toe.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The fashion nail covering of claim 1, wherein the area of the outlined area of the finger nail or toe nail is unpainted.
 4. The fashion nail covering of claim 1, wherein the area of the outlined area of the finger nail or toe nail is painted.
 5. The fashion nail covering of claim 4, wherein the area of the outlined area of the finger nail or toe nail is painted to simulate the appearance of a normal, healthy adjacent unpainted or painted finger nail or toe nail.
 6. The fashion nail covering of claim 5, wherein the area of the outlined area of the finger nail or toe nail is painted to simulate the appearance of an unpainted adjacent finger nail or toe nail.
 7. The fashion nail covering of claim 5, wherein the area of the outlined area of a finger nail or toe nail is painted to simulate the appearance of a painted adjacent finger nail or toe nail.
 8. The fashion nail covering of claim 1, wherein the adhesive tape in an area outside the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail is transparent.
 9. The fashion nail covering of claim 1, wherein the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail is of a size to cover a specific finger nail or toe nail.
 10. The fashion nail covering of claim 1, wherein the nail adhesive side of the adhesive tape is in the absence of a pad material.
 11. The fashion nail covering of claim 1, further comprising a pad material located on the nail adhesive side of the adhesive tape.
 12. A fashion nail covering set comprising from one to ten individual fashion nail coverings wherein each fashion nail covering comprises an adhesive tape having a nail adhesive side and an opposing outer side having a printed nail area which is an outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail, and wherein the opposing outer side of the adhesive tape has an area outside the outlined nail area, and wherein the nail adhesive side of the adhesive tape is adherable to a nail and skin of a finger or toe.
 13. The fashion nail covering set of claim 12, wherein the set comprises ten fashion nail coverings and, wherein the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail of each of the ten individual fashion nail coverings are of a plurality of sizes conforming to the sizes of the nails on a human hand.
 14. The fashion nail covering set of claim 12, wherein the set comprises ten fashion nail coverings and, wherein the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail of each of the ten individual fashion nail coverings are of a plurality of sizes conforming to the sizes of nails on a human foot.
 15. The fashion nail covering set of claim 12, wherein the set comprises ten fashion nail coverings and, wherein the area of the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail of each of the individual fashion nail coverings is of the same color.
 16. The fashion nail covering set of claim 15, where each of the individual fashion nail coverings in the area outside the outlined area of the human finger nail or toe nail of the adhesive tape is transparent.
 17. The fashion toe covering set of claim 12, wherein the set comprises ten fashion nail coverings and, wherein the area of the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail of each of the individual fashion nail coverings is of varying colors.
 18. A method of covering a nail of the human hand or foot comprising: applying a fashion nail covering comprising an adhesive tape having a nail adhesive side and an opposing outer side having a printed nail area which is an outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail, and wherein the opposing outer side of the adhesive tape has an area outside the outlined nail area, and wherein the nail adhesive side of the adhesive tape is adherable to a nail and skin of a finger or toe of the human hand or foot.
 19. (canceled)
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the area of the outlined area of a human finger nail or toe nail of the fashion nail covering is a painted area. 